RAMALLAH,  September 15, 2009 (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas received Tuesday at the Presidential HQ in Ramallah the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East Senator George Mitchell.

Following the meeting, the Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, Dr. Saeb Erakat, told reporters that Mitchell informed us that he did not reach yet an agreement with the Israelis, but the talks with them will continue.

“ We informed Mitchell that Israel has to fulfill its obligations in the Road Map regarding the halt of all settlement activities, including natural growth,” Dr. Erakat said, stressing that the would no compromise regarding halting the settlement activities.

Asked about the purposed tripartite meeting between President Abbas, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama on the margin of the works of the UN General Assembly in New York late this month, Erakat said “Meetings must not be for meeting only, because the is a target for the peace process represented by ending the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territory.”

He added “we should concentrate on the essence of the question. We would reach an agreement on the meeting when there would be an agreement on the essence”